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Book Review: Throw Like a Woman by Susan Petrone

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge,from the author, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about itI always love it when authors contact me directly about reading their book.It's like all those days spent reading in the library, and everywhere else, have come to fruition, and I can say "see? reading pays off!" to all those kids who harassed me about reading so much!So Welcome to the Word of the 'Boys' of Summer, with baseball season upon us with this new book, that will make you rethink the status quo...

Synopsis:

Forty years old, divorced, with two sons on the verge of adolescence and an ex-husband who considers visitation to be optional, Brenda Haversham isn't having a whole lot of fun. She's also no longer qualified for the work she loves, so she's working in a cubicle instead while trying to make ends meet.

Brenda is short on money, short on connection with her kids, and short on any kind of social life. The only thing Brenda has in abundance is her anger. And that turns out to be her greatest asset.

When she was a kid, Brenda's father taught her how to throw a good fastball. That wasn't of much use to a girl, but it is enough to astound onlookers at a "test your speed" pitching cage before a Cleveland Indians game. The more Brenda pictures her ex-husband's face on the other end, the harder she throws. And when someone tapes her performance and puts it up online, Brenda becomes an Internet sensation – and then more than that.

Soon, the Indians come calling and Brenda finds her life taking a turn in a new direction. She finds herself standing on the mound as the first woman player in Major League history – and dealing with everything that comes with it. The money is great and the endorsement deals are even better. The fury of "traditionalists," not so much. And the conflicting emotions of her teammates are even harder to manage.

Meanwhile, Brenda's home life is evolving faster than she can keep up, redefining her role as a mother, a friend, and even a lover.

As the season winds down Brenda will find out if she has what it takes to be a winner – at both baseball and life.

Review:

There was much in this wonderful book that I could relate to, and I think that is it's hook- many woman have been where Brenda is, both relationship and financial wise. In my age group, our dad's DID teach us sports, especially if they didn't have a son. It was the day of Title 1, when suddenly girls COULD play, and they wanted to give us a leg up. Course there was a limit to where it could take us- college.

Now we look at players like Mo'ne Davis and realize that a woman playing pro-baseball just MIGHT be in our near future. So this book is very timely indeed! It is a fun and quick read, and one that will leave you smiling and thinking that you need to find the thing that YOU are truly good at, and run with it! It is chock full of humor and analogies, and a wonderful adult read that takes you beyond chick-lit and into the realm of Book of the Year! Petrone has hit a home run with this, her second adult novel.

So head on out and pick this one up to read while the hubby is watching endless hours of baseball. You just might appreciate the game more when you're done!

About the Author:

Susan Petrone lives with one husband, one child, and two dogs in Cleveland, Ohio. Her first novel won a bronze medal for regional fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards (IPPY).Susan’s non-fiction work has appeared on CoolCleveland.com and ESPN.com, and she co-owns the Cleveland Indians blog, ItsPronouncedLajaway.com, for ESPN.com’s SweetSpot network.She holds a master’s degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Cleveland State University. Her best pitch is a breaking ball.. Check out her website for more info on her writing!

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Welcome to my little corner of the blog-o-sphere, and Bless Your Hearts, maybe some of ya'll will read my blog and get a good laugh or two along the way! This blog is alot like cooking- a little of this and a little of that, but it all makes the blog better than following a set recipe (niche), just like when your Mama or Grandma cooks! Just like the saying "Bless her/his heart". I've heard it all my life, from Mom and my Southern relatives (yes, there is a Yankee side, sorry Robert E. Lee), and now I've caught myself saying it. Motherhood does that to you- brings out stuff you thought you'd gotten away from. So grab a cup of coffee or tea, and sit down and hopefully, you'll stay awhile and come back for more! The WELCOME mat is out, ya'll come in!